I am a product designer working in the AI industry. I majored in accessory design during my undergraduate studies. I realized I was more interested in user experience during my thesis project, so I designed a wearable interactive installation to reflect people's emotions on fabric as my thesis work. My thesis project was the starting point for my career change.

The user-centric concept attracted me and inspired me to dive deeply into this area during my master's studies. I stepped into product and user experience (UX) design. After graduation, I have worked with different companies, from theme park online experience to medical platforms. Being a product designer helped me think from various perspectives and deliver products with positive impacts.

From a young age, I have felt my love for drawing and my passion for creating things. Growing up, this was what I was passionate about, and I set my career choices as being creative from then. Art and design are everywhere, and I want to contribute by using my design to empower more people. 

I am working on an extension called QuillBot, an AI writing assistant platform that helps young professionals and students improve their writing skills and be more confident along the journey. I work closely with the App & Extension team and support the service of 35 million people worldwide.

I also have side projects to help me dive deeper into diverse domains. For instance, I am working on an app called Journie, an AI-powered travel platform designed for solo women travelers to safely and confidently have their adventures. Empowerment is a theme in all of my projects. 

Creativity is the ability to capture a pain point, an idea, or a situation from multiple perspectives and connect seemingly unrelated dots to find suitable solutions.

Creativity isn't confined to any specific field. I think it's a mindset that embraces curiosity and courage to take risks and make mistakes. It is very proactive. Creativity is about imagining what could be, not just staying in one's comfort zone and accepting what it is.

To create a creative design, we need to push boundaries and find beauty and functionality in unexpected places. It's not just about doing something new but also bringing a fresh perspective or approach that solves a problem, tells a story, or enhances an experience.

Ultimately, a creative idea or design will prove its value by positively impacting the users, increasing their efficiency and confidence.

Iterated from the double diamond design process model, I'd describe my process as a loop, where I usually start from an idea or a painpoint. I often work with other stakeholders and do research. I dislike confining myself to a set research framework, so I pick the most suitable research approach based on each project's context and user group.

After the research, I start wireframing and designing the hi-fi flows. A usability test is a big part of the process, where I can get user input for further improvement. All the insights I get support my design iteration. I also like to conduct with developers after the release, during which we review the data and discuss the next milestone and goal. 

I enjoy investing in research and finding great user insights from my potential users. During a previous project where I brainstormed ideas with those experiencing homelessness, I learned that most users own a phone, which helped me land on designing a mobile app. Designers must be aware of biases and get users involved in the design process to design with them instead of designing for them.

My creative style is open-minded and explorative, reflected in my projects. In a project called Black Box, I invited strangers to experience the Black Box machine to better understand the value of personal data in a social experiment.

This project aimed to provoke thought and discussion around data privacy and the often-overlooked implications of data collection in our digital age. As a UX designer, I want to create experiences with a collaborative mindset.

Chinese calligraphy, architecture, and art have taught me minimalism's power and negative space's significance, greatly influencing my aesthetic choices. The philosophies in the traditional cultures have also shaped my understanding of balance, harmony, and empathy—all of which are crucial in designing user-centric experiences.

Winning the 2024 MUSE Creative Awards is a tremendous honor for me and my teammate. It validates our hard work, creativity, and commitment in pushing the boundaries of design and innovation.

For me, this award is a celebration of the collaborative spirit and the passion for design. It's a reminder of the importance of fostering a creative environment where everyone feels empowered to share their ideas. 

My teammate and I care about climate change and want to use design to support those affected by hurricanes and other natural disasters. So we designed Vigil. Vigil is an AI-driven application intended to improve disaster preparedness and fill critical gaps in emergency readiness.

With over 30% of people in high-risk areas not planning for hazards, Vigil offers personalized guidance, real-time alerts, and community resources to assist users before, during, and after disasters, aiming to reduce damage and save lives.

Entering this project into the MUSE Creative Awards provides an opportunity to showcase Vigil's innovative approach to disaster preparedness. The app addresses a significant need by leveraging AI to make emergency readiness more accessible, personalized, and community-focused. 

The biggest challenge with this project was to balance the information diversity and the efficiency. As designers, we want to provide more contextual information to help our users. But at the same time, we must be cautious to avoid overwhelming users and adding additional emotional burdens.

So we came up with the Phase concept, breaking down the user journey into clear, manageable stages: prepare, during, and recover. We can deliver the most relevant content by organizing information and guidance into these phases at the right time.

This approach allowed us to focus on the essential details needed at each stage, ensuring that users received concise and actionable insights without feeling overwhelmed. Balancing these elements required careful design, user testing, and constant refinement to a comprehensive and user-friendly experience.

Winning an award has positively impacted my career by recognizing my work and approach to innovative design. It has opened new opportunities, built credibility, and expanded my professional network. The recognition also motivates me and my team to keep pushing for new ideas.

My top three favorite things about the UX creative industry are its strong focus on solving real user problems, which makes each project impactful and relevant; the constant evolution with new technologies, which keeps the work dynamic and engaging; and the collaboration with diverse teams, which enriches my design process and fosters innovative solutions.

China's unique blend of ancient traditions and rapid modernization creates a distinctive environment in our creative industry. The fast technological development is creating more and more opportunities.

From my point of view, the creative industry will see more integration of machine learning for personalized and efficient design over the next decade. Being in the AI industry, I can feel the speed of development and the emerging need to integrate AI into designs to better support users.

Furthermore, there will be a stronger focus on AI ethical practices, reflecting growing consumer values. Immersive technologies like AR and VR will become more common, offering innovative ways to interact with and experience creative work. The industry will blend technology with artistry, pushing new boundaries while debating ethical and environmental effects.

I'd advise them to focus on building a solid foundation in creativity and technical skills. Stay curious and continuously learn about new technologies and trends. Be open to feedback and collaboration, as diverse perspectives can enhance their work.

Finally, don't be afraid to take risks and push boundaries; innovation often comes from exploring new ideas and challenging the status quo.

I recommend the book Speculative Everything by Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby. This book has profoundly influenced my thinking and approach to design, encouraging me to imagine and create alternative futures. Apart from this, I recommend the Behance and Figma communities. They are all very inspiring and resourceful.

I am inspired by my dreams. During COVID, I lived alone and had a new habit of documenting my dream using 3D animations and visuals. I like the moment I wake up and note down my wild dreams.

After that, I will spend some time building models, rendering them, and trying to capture the exact feeling of my dream. It was one of my favorite side projects. 

I co-host a podcast with one of my best friends. We invite guests who have inspired me and given me new perspectives on this world. For example, we asked a show director in a recent episode to discuss emotion synthesis in performance and art.

The discussion taught me how powerful the emotions embedded in art can be. All the talks were very insightful and valuable for my development. 

The core of my projects is always tied back to user empowerment. UX designers listen to users' pain points and hold their hands when delivering a solution.

Always keep the end user in mind when designing a product or creating content, and understanding their needs, behaviors, and pain points will help you create more effective solutions. User-centric design is key to making products that people love.